July 5, 2015

Hi there. I know, it's been a long time since I was here. I didn't mean to be away for so long. I gave thought to abandoning my little blog, and also gave thought to sneaking in a post and pretending that I haven't been so absent. Rumor has it that not many people read blogs any more. I hope that isn't true, but honestly, I haven't been reading many blogs myself. I follow many of you on Instagram, though, and have been able to keep up with you there.

I'm still working full-time at a law firm. For a few months, I also worked on a huge quilting project that took almost every spare minute, and I had to give up a lot of things to get it finished. Things like blogging, reading, housekeeping, lunch hours and, occasionally, shaving my legs.

A few weeks ago, I was finally able to take a short trip with my mom and aunt to Savannah, Georgia. Such a beautiful city with so much history.

My mom and aunt were searching for Gullah sweetgrass baskets that are found in the Savannah/Charleston area. We went walking along River Street, and found Oji Lukata. Oji is a gracious man whose family has been sewing sweetgrass baskets for generations. Here is Oji with my mom who is still so excited about her basket and thrilled to have met Oji. And below the photo is a short video on the tradition and history of these baskets.

From Savannah, we took a short drive to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina to visit Michael Smalls who also makes sweetgrass baskets. We found Michael sewing a basket while sitting in a shady area on the grounds of the Coastal Discovery Museum. We didn't have a lot of time to spend at the museum and, since it felt like 140 degrees in the shade, exploring the grounds may not have been a brilliant idea anyway. I would love to go back to the museum when the weather is cooler. It's an incredibly beautiful place surrounded by towering live oaks draped in moss. Here are photos of Michael and my aunt, and the front of the museum.

I'm slowly getting back to quilting. Very, very slowly. Have you ever slowly worked on three projects at once? My progress is almost invisible without time lapse photography. But I'm enjoying being able to sew just for fun, and working on some long-term projects. One of my projects is Lissa Alexander's Rainbow Rows quilt that she made for American Patchwork & Quilting's Go Four It quilt-along. Tee-tiny little four-patch blocks set on point. I haven't even bothered to check the number of four-patch blocks I'll need for a whole quilt. I'm sure it's like eight thousand or something. I just make a few when the mood strikes, and watch the stack grow. Slowly.

That's pretty much everything I've been up to, all in one post. I'll be working on some fun things to share with you soon. Until then, take care and have a great summer!

Kim

Posted by
Kim Brackett

29 comments:

lovely to see your blogging............I only read blogs and do as much as I always have done.........its the only social media I use.........lovely trip with your mum..........the 4 patch is going to look great..........

I still read blogs, too and it was nice to see a new post from you! I do use Instagram, but somehow a blog post is usually a little more personal and a little more informative. Life already goes by at too quick a pace - I don't need everything in my life to be instant! That's what's so great about quilting - slowing down and enjoying the pace of it all. There are still several Kim Brackett quilts on my "to do" list - I hope to get at least one of them started soon!

Delighted to have you back Kim! Savannah looks like a terrific place to visit (definitely on my list.) I'm afraid I don't understand the difference between blogging and Instagram. Aren't both just words and pictures? If Instagram is where the action is and your business relies on reaching the majority of people then perhaps that influences your decision. I've been working on a EPP quilt for nearly five years now plus other projects from 2012. Just finished a quilt that started in 2010. By comparison, you are rocketting along!

Enjoyed your blog. I'm still a blog reader! Loved all your pictures with info. Found it all very interesting. I have two baskets that my grandfather made over in Europe from Willow Branches. I treasure them.

I am an avid blog reader too! I lamented the demise on my blog a few weeks back and was heartened by the support from those who ONLY read blogs! So we still have a voice and an audience! Love those baskets! And the pretty patchwork squares are just delightful!

Thanks for the link to that museum. We are going to HH later this summer. I still read blogs. I keep hearing that blogs are dead, but I don't agree with that at all. I can't get into Instagram. I would rather read blogs. Have a great summer!

Thank you so much for posting that video. I have this LOVE for baskets that my family just doesn't get....I've even made a dozen or so. I made my kids each an easter basket that they've always used and I hope as they have kids they use mine. I need to take a trip down and check out the baskets you posted about!!!

I still read blogs. I love your tiny four patches! Thanks for sharing and don't stop blogging! I usually work on three or four projects at one time, can't get bored. Your Picnic pattern is one that I play with from time to time.

Hey Good News -- it looks like you have 7950 four patch blocks! ;-P They're looking spiffy! So nice to see you back. I love IG, but it's so nice to read a blog post for the details -- there's just not enough room on IG. And the pictures are prettier on blogs most of the time too ;-D

Kim I'm definitely a blog reader, although I do look at Instagram every now & then.What a pretty pile of 4-patches, it sure does sound like you'll need a lot of them for your project.Lovely pics from Savannah!

Just let me tell you that I found you and your blog only today and got stuck here because I have been reading from start to end! I only read blogs because instagram makes me dizzy with so many pictures and so few words. I would love to come back and continue reading about you and your work. Thank you so much for posting and for sharing so many ideas on quilting. It's a joy! Gretings from Germany

I too have a pile of 4 patch blocks. I am such a scrap hoarder... But, since I have retired, I have reduced my scrap stash to - well - scraps. I cut all the 6" squares that I can from a scrap, then I cut 3", 4" or 2 1/2" patches and store them according to size. I am on top of my 2 1/2" pieces, having turned them all into 4 patch blocks and joining them into larger blocks as I go along. It might take me the rest of my retirement, but I have been determined to (one day) make a whole postage stamp quilt before I die. Now I know what to do with all of those left over strips less than 2 1/2" wide. Woot woot...